obama is scheduled to return to washington on thursday in time to restart talks. the u.s. president is asking congressional executives to compile a compromise plan that features continued tax cuts for the middle class. that represents a shift in his policy that called for higher taxes on the wealthy, along with measures to cut the fiscal deficit. talks between democrats and republicans came to a standstill last week. a deal still remains uncertain. the republicans canceled a vote on their compromise plan. that's because many republicans remain opposed to any kind of tax hikes. >>> china has opened what it calls the world's longest high-speed rail line. the railway links the capital city of beijing and ghangzhou in the south. shun ishibe have more. >> reporter: the first high-speed train for beijing is about to leave guangzhou south railway station. many passengers are carrying coats, because the temperature in beijing is about 20 degrees centigrade lower than here in guangzhou. the new line stretches nearly 2,300 kilometers, including a section already in service. the trip